Film - recommended viewing of Italian films

This section of our website is still under development.

However, there is one item to add NOW!

Festival di Venezia

The oldest film festival in the world and one of the most prestigious, the Venice Film Festival (Mostra Internationzionale d'Arte Cinematografica di Venezia) was founded in 1932 (yes, 1932!!) by Count Giusppe Volpi di Misurata.

The festival takes place every year in early September at Venice's Lido, an 11km long sand bar in the middle of the Venetian lagoon, where film screenings are hosted in the historic Palazzo del Cinema (Cinema Palace).

The festival's main awards are:

• Leone d'Oro (Golden Lion) for the best movie
• Coppa Volpi (Volpi Cup) for best actor and actress

In 1970 a second Golden Lion award (Leone d'Oro all Carriera) was introduced as an honorary award for people who have given an important contribution to cinema.  Winners of the Leone d'Oro all Carriera have included Orson Wells, John Ford, Charlie Chaplin, Al Pacino, Woody Allen, Clint Eastwood, David Lynch and Tim Burton.